Reactive Dog Programme

You Are Not Alone

This programme consists of two levels of classes for owners with dogs that have trouble coping with the presence of other dogs on walks and that may have been labelled “aggressive” or “fearful”.

Irrespective of your dog’s background and the cause of the “issues”, there are things we can do to help. We cannot, however, make any promises as regards whether we can "cure" your dog, because your dog’s reactivity, as well as the result of the training, will vary depending on many factors, including:

- your dog’s background;
- your dog’s inherited temperament traits;
- your dog’s life experiences to date;
- your dog’s early puppyhood socialization (if any);
- what levels of stress your dog is subjected to on a daily basis.

IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT!

Having a reactive dog is often both exhausting and embarrassing. It can be quite daunting at times. Frustrating. Frightening. Disappointing. Depressing. Infuriating. And, at times, heart-breaking.

Our first consideration is to create an environment and an atmosphere where everybody, humans and dogs, can feel SAFE.

In order for our dogs to learn about the world around them, never mind being able to train with you, we need to learn how to create an environment where our dogs can feel SAFE. Only then can they learn to RELAX in the presence of the things that used to trigger their fear/aggression/reactivity.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

1. Behaviour Evaluation

Before being accepted into the Reactive Dog Programme, we will need to assess your dog to make sure he or she is suitable for the programme. Unless we have already worked with your dog through our private behaviour consultations programme, we will need to set up Behaviour Evaluation for this purpose.

The Behaviour Evaluation consists of
- One 20-30 mins Zoom session, where we go through a 16-page Behaviour Information Form that you will have completed ahead of time; and
- One 20-30 mins in-person session, where we meet your dog and assess his or her behaviour with other dogs, people or other triggers.
- We then discuss and decide together how we can best help your dog based on our findings and your time and budget constraints.

2. Orientation Class

Once we have completed the private training or the Behaviour Evaluation, your first, compulsory class of the Reactive Dog Programme is the Orientation Class. This is a 1-hour theory lesson WITHOUT dogs.

For upcoming orientation classes, CLICK HERE.

3. Introductory Reactive Dog Theory Lesson

In order to help make their dog better, it is important that owners understand what is going on with their reactive dog.

The Reactive Dog Programme therefore begins with a 1-on-1 private lesson via Zoom for the purpose of educating you about why dog become reactive, how we work with the dog to make them better, and why what we do actually works to make them better. As soon as you have registered for the Reactive Dog Programme, we set this lesson up at a time of your convenience.

Ater that lesson, you will move on to the 30-mins one-on-one lessons, which are usually held indoors, but may also be outdoors in a controlled environment. These are split into two levels:

4. Level I: Basic Reactivity Protocols

Learning to exist and work in the presence of your stress triggers (other dogs, etc). These lessons are usually held indoors.

The curriculum has three main parts, including a number of student electives based on our findings and discussions after the behaviour evaluation.

CUSTOMIZED CURRICULUM

Reactivity	Confidence & Relationship Building	Student Electives (from customized list of training priorities)
Systematic Desensitization, Classical and Operant Counterconditioning	Come When Called	1.
BAT Line Handling Skills (preparing for level 2)	Emergency Recall	2.
	Meandering Loose Leash Walking	3.
	Polite Walking	4.
	Settle	5.

5. Level II: BAT - Interaction Protocols

The BAT protocol is used to teach the dog to make his or her own, appropriate decisions in the presence of other dogs. These lessons are held in a controlled, outdoors environment, year-round.

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES

As a Cowichan Canine Reactive Dog Programme student, you pick your own classes from the schedule, and you can come to class as often as you want.

Lessons are offered several times a week at our new Training Centre in Cobble Hill, which will be finished in the fall of 2020. Please see our online schedule.

CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF WHAT TO BRING TO CLASS

ROLLING ENROLLMENT
- NO NEED TO WAIT FOR CLASSES TO BEGIN!

MODULAR SCHEDULE
- COME TO CLASS WHEN IT SUITS YOU

You can come to class as often as you wish as the schedule allows.

The curriculum is written on the basis that students attend class regularly and complete homework assignments between each class. 

FAMILY MEMBERS ATTENDING CLASS

Your spouse or significant other is welcome to attend to help with class and with exercises, or just to observe.

Children under the age of 16 years of age are prohibited from attending lessons in the Reactive Dog Programme.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR CURRENT CLASS FEES

TO BOOK A BEHAVIOUR EVALUATION

You are welcome to call us to discuss your dog's training options. Unless we already know your dog through previous training, a behaviour evaluation is necessary to establish whether your dog will benefit from the Reactive Dog Programme. To book the Behaviour Evaluation, please go to our Online Shop, and submit your payment. We will contact you as soon as we receive your payment and send you the Behaviour Information Form. Once we receive the form back from you, we will set up your dog’s Evaluation session at our Training Centre. 

CALL US TODAY to discuss yours and your dogs needs: 

Tel: 250-929-1400  or use our  Office Contact Form
or contact our Canine Behaviour Consultant directly via email:
[email protected]

 

Welcome to our Reactive Dog Programme – we journey together!